Women ministers speak about their public and private lives
Jun 22, 2007
THE higher a woman rises on the political ladder, the more challenging her domestic relationship becomes. It takes great effort to balance politics and family. <b>Alice Emasu</b> talked to some women ministers at the Eighth triennial meeting of the Commonwealth ministers responsible for gender affai
THE higher a woman rises on the political ladder, the more challenging her domestic relationship becomes. It takes great effort to balance politics and family. Alice Emasu talked to some women ministers at the Eighth triennial meeting of the Commonwealth ministers responsible for gender affairs recently at Speke Resort, Munyonyo. She asked them about how they were managing
Luisa Dias Diogo, Prime Minister Mozambique
Do women face domestic problems when they rise up the political ladder in your country?
They do. Divorce and domestic violence has been a common experience of top political women leaders in my country. Most would go for state functions only to be surprised by their fuming husbands demanding to take her home before the ceremony ends. But today, that has substantially reduced following several deliberate government sensitisation and capacity building programmes that have been extended to leaders and their spouses.
How have you managed personally?
I took time to make my husband appreciate my job. I also make time for him and our children. I jog with him and discuss family issues with him every weekend except when I am out on official duty like in this case. We sometimes involve our older son in jogging.
What advice do you give other successful women?
I have seen cases where women have abandoned their careers for their families and vice-versa. This is not good. It is important to always discuss, negotiate and utilise the available little time with your partner.
A woman should discuss with their husband the requirements and challenges of her job or else misunderstandings would occur, which may result into divorce. If the man cannot adjust to support your work, you might not have a pleasant time at work. Most men are now conscious and appreciate having a woman in political power. They now see the advantage and pride of being in the company of such women.
Yu – Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, in Singapore
How do you juggle being minister and a wife?
I am dedicated to my political office but always conscious about my family – my husband and my three children. I organise a get-together function for my family including our in-laws at least once a week. Sometimes during trips like this one, I invite my husband to come along with me even if it means him spending just a night and returning home.
Do women find it hard to balance politics and family affairs in your country?
Some do, but we know that we have a family irrespective of our statuses.
In Singapore, the government deliberately works to strengthen the family through the family laws.
For women leaders to excel, they need support from their husbands first. Government also has to have laws that support the family.
Angelika Muhamurukua, Deputy Minister of gender, equality, child welfare and community development, in Namibia
Why did you leave your husband home?
He was busy. But this does not mean we do not love each other or miss each other.
Isn’t being too busy for each other a common cause of divorce?
But some of the women politicians divorce for other reasons not related to the busy schedules of their offices.
But does political office make a woman too busy for home?
Women should not say they are too busy to care for their husbands because of politics. They can marry the two if they mean it.
We in Africa treasure marriage and we should not allow our changing status and politics to destroy it.
What advice do you give to African women?
Our women should be conscious about the diversity of cultures and should not import other cultures in the fight to achieve gender equality.
And for men?
Our partners have to appreciate the changing role of women in society.
Dr Safuya Muhammad, acting minister for gender, Nigeria
Do Nigerian men also feel insecure with successful wives?Yes! Even those married to intelligent, eloquent and well exposed women. I have known this for sure for the last 10 years as a politician.
How have you handled it?
Men want to be the leaders in the home. In our house, my husband is my boss despite the fact that I am a high profile woman in government. We amicably agree on key decisions together but I allow him to be the decision maker. This way he feels very comfortable. We communicate anytime anywhere to find out about each other and the children.
We talk about almost everything like what we dreamt about at night.
He sometimes asks if I miss him and I do likewise. This communication may appear expensive, but you cannot compare it to the costly divorce.
Doesn’t this affect your efficiency at work?
My family issues do not interfere with my work schedule. Outside office, my time is for my family. However, in office, we have to prove our capabilities as leaders while at the same time maintain our place in the kitchen as mothers and wives.
Men say office makes you forget their needs as men
Once in a while, especially on weekends, I cook for him his favourite dish. Our hobbies are fortunately the same.
During our leisure time, we go swimming and watch films together in our house despite him also having a busy schedule. He is a lawyer.
Luisa Dias Diogo, Prime Minister Mozambique
Do women face domestic problems when they rise up the political ladder in your country?
They do. Divorce and domestic violence has been a common experience of top political women leaders in my country. Most would go for state functions only to be surprised by their fuming husbands demanding to take her home before the ceremony ends. But today, that has substantially reduced following several deliberate government sensitisation and capacity building programmes that have been extended to leaders and their spouses.
How have you managed personally?
I took time to make my husband appreciate my job. I also make time for him and our children. I jog with him and discuss family issues with him every weekend except when I am out on official duty like in this case. We sometimes involve our older son in jogging.
What advice do you give other successful women?
I have seen cases where women have abandoned their careers for their families and vice-versa. This is not good. It is important to always discuss, negotiate and utilise the available little time with your partner.
A woman should discuss with their husband the requirements and challenges of her job or else misunderstandings would occur, which may result into divorce. If the man cannot adjust to support your work, you might not have a pleasant time at work. Most men are now conscious and appreciate having a woman in political power. They now see the advantage and pride of being in the company of such women.
Yu – Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, in Singapore
How do you juggle being minister and a wife?
I am dedicated to my political office but always conscious about my family – my husband and my three children. I organise a get-together function for my family including our in-laws at least once a week. Sometimes during trips like this one, I invite my husband to come along with me even if it means him spending just a night and returning home.
Do women find it hard to balance politics and family affairs in your country?
Some do, but we know that we have a family irrespective of our statuses.
In Singapore, the government deliberately works to strengthen the family through the family laws.
For women leaders to excel, they need support from their husbands first. Government also has to have laws that support the family.
Angelika Muhamurukua, Deputy Minister of gender, equality, child welfare and community development, in Namibia
Why did you leave your husband home?
He was busy. But this does not mean we do not love each other or miss each other.
Isn’t being too busy for each other a common cause of divorce?
But some of the women politicians divorce for other reasons not related to the busy schedules of their offices.
But does political office make a woman too busy for home?
Women should not say they are too busy to care for their husbands because of politics. They can marry the two if they mean it.
We in Africa treasure marriage and we should not allow our changing status and politics to destroy it.
What advice do you give to African women?
Our women should be conscious about the diversity of cultures and should not import other cultures in the fight to achieve gender equality.
And for men?
Our partners have to appreciate the changing role of women in society.
Dr Safuya Muhammad, acting minister for gender, Nigeria
Do Nigerian men also feel insecure with successful wives?Yes! Even those married to intelligent, eloquent and well exposed women. I have known this for sure for the last 10 years as a politician.
How have you handled it?
Men want to be the leaders in the home. In our house, my husband is my boss despite the fact that I am a high profile woman in government. We amicably agree on key decisions together but I allow him to be the decision maker. This way he feels very comfortable. We communicate anytime anywhere to find out about each other and the children.
We talk about almost everything like what we dreamt about at night.
He sometimes asks if I miss him and I do likewise. This communication may appear expensive, but you cannot compare it to the costly divorce.
Doesn’t this affect your efficiency at work?
My family issues do not interfere with my work schedule. Outside office, my time is for my family. However, in office, we have to prove our capabilities as leaders while at the same time maintain our place in the kitchen as mothers and wives.
Men say office makes you forget their needs as men
Once in a while, especially on weekends, I cook for him his favourite dish. Our hobbies are fortunately the same.
During our leisure time, we go swimming and watch films together in our house despite him also having a busy schedule. He is a lawyer.